OACIS Become Fellow

Become an OACIS Teacher

We invite Seattle and San Juan County public high school science teachers interested in collaborating with a marine science graduate student fellow to apply to become OACIS teachers. Teachers host an OACIS fellow from the University of Washington (UW) in their classrooms for 10 hours per week throughout the school year.

Fellows in Classrooms

OACIS teachers host a graduate student fellow to help integrate marine science content into their science curriculum. Teachers mentor OACIS fellows on teaching and communicating science curriculum to high school students throughout the year. The fellow’s overall role is to support and enhance classroom activities; they are not substitute teachers or teacher aides. Because each high school is different, fellows and teachers discuss the fellows’ roles in the classroom before the OACIS residency begins. Fellows’ duties in the classroopxxm may include: Designing lessons and projects that are original or adapted from current research and university courses for the high school classroom Teaching particular components of the curriculum Setting up demonstrations and student laboratory activities Acting as a content resource for the teacher and the students Allowing the class to break up into smaller groups

Support and Training

Along with providing a fellow to work in the school, OACIS provides teachers with training and continuedsupport throughout the year. During the summer before the school year begins, teachers attend two workshops designed to help them begin collaborating with their fellows. During the school year, teachers attend quarterly meetings with all OACIS teachers and fellows to brainstorm, trouble-shoot, and assess progress. The OACIS coordinators communicate regularly with teachers to help foster collaboration within OACIS teams.

Teacher Stipend

OACIS provides teachers with:

A small stipend (approximately $5,000) to help compensate for summer workshop time and time working with and mentoring the OACIS fellow
Funding for OACIS workshop and program field trip travel, lodging, and meals
Opportunities to apply for travel support to present the work resulting from the teacher-graduate student collaboration at regional or national conferences
The opportunity to apply work hours to continuing education requirements

Teacher Duties

Attend two summer training workshops (link to Events and Deadlines) in June and August
Work with the graduate fellow to integrate marine science into your curriculum
Host the graduate fellow in your class for at least 10 hours per week
Attend one-hour weekly meetings with the graduate fellow outside of 10 hours of fellow’s class time
Attend all-OACIS quarterly meetings (link to Events and Deadlines)

Desired Qualifications

OACIS teachers are selected from Seattle and San Juan County public high schools. We look for teachers with an enthusiasm for integrating ocean sciences, current research, and hands-on class activities into their curricula. Teachers should be willing to work collaboratively with a graduate fellow and to provide teaching mentorship. OACIS selects eight graduate students and teachers for five to six partnerships in Seattle Public High Schools and two to three partnerships in San Juan County public high schools.

Apply

To apply download the OACIS Teacher Application.